Wagner Cove Central Park Elopement

It was a Skype date made in heaven. When Allie and Alex logged on from London to chat with my about their upcoming elopement in NYC, we instantly clicked. Allie and Alex are such warm, lovely, fun people, I couldn’t wait to meet them in person. After a coast-to-coast tour of the US, Alex and Allie landed in NYC. On a gorgeous day (one day before my 5th wedding anniversary), I headed down to the Jane Hotel in the West Village. The Jane is insane: the hotel was restored to its 1908 grandeur, and the staff even dress like turn-of-the-century bellhops. If wallpaper-gasm isn’t a word, it should be. Grinning against a peacock background, Allie was a stunner. And Alex was one of the sharpest grooms I’d ever seen. The day was intimate, spur-of-the-moment, and super casual. Case in point: No, Allie didn’t get a pedicure, but decided to paint her own toenails a few minutes before slipping into her short, sweet, flirty dress. They’d already made their way across the country, so why rush now? We slipped into a cafe before heading to the ceremony. As if a radio DJ from the sky was spinning just for us, “Going to the Chapel” came on. And even though we needed to head out, we took a moment to let the song play out and giggle. Both Alex and Allie are expert gigglers.

Alex and Allie had decided to get married in NYC for lots of reasons, but a big one was Central Park. But Allie and Alex didn’t cross the pond alone. In the spirit of spontaneity, they brought a dear friend as their witness–only she didn’t know she was witnessing a wedding till a couple days before. So the four of us piled into a cab and headed over to Wagner’s Cove to meet the fantastic Judie Guild. Wagner’s Cove is fantastic because even when the Park is slammed with tourists and New Yorkers enjoying the gorgeous weather, it’s a secluded little spot that you can make your own for an elopement. Allie and Alex exchanged rings (a ruby ring!) overlooking the Lake. The San Remo and Bethesda Fountain gave us that classic you-know-you’re-in-New-York feel.

There’s nothing quite like ending your day with in Chelsea with cobblestone, luscious light, and oh yeah, a retro cab just happening to pull up behind you. After some wicked dance moves, a lot of snuggling, laughter, and great hair, we finally called it an evening, and I sent Alex and Allie off to enjoy dinner and the rest of their wedding day. We made plans to meet again in London sometime this year: Natalie has a research trip plan, and I’m dying to introduce them to her and spend some more time. And then I headed home to celebrate my anniversary (erev anniversary, as I Jewishly think about it).